Victrex to celebrate 20 years in business
Victrex is celebrating 20 years in business this month, with a celebration event for employees past and present.
The Group has gone from just 60 employees in 1993 to over 650 now, including around 400 employed at its global headquarters and manufacturing site in Thornton Cleveleys, Lancashire. It also has operations in South Yorkshire, Teesside, and sales and technical centres across the world, including Japan and the US.
The Group, which provides light-weight products replacing metals serves the aerospace, automotive, oil and gas, electronics and medical markets, and is a major exporter, to countries including the US, China, Japan, Germany and Korea. Over 97% of Victrex products are exported around the world.
Victrex products are based around high performance thermoplastics including PEEK (polyetheretherketones) and other polymers, which are used as a metal replacement across a number of industries due to its unique performance properties – durability, heat resistance and environmental tolerance being just some of the benefits. Its UK base also includes extensive research and development activities for customers which include aerospace manufacturers, major car manufacturers and the medical industry.
The celebration event on Thursday 3 rd October will include presentations and site tours, with guests including previous management and those involved in the management buyout from ICI.
Victrex sales in 1993 were less than £10 million, with the Group last year seeing sales move up to £220 million. It has also signalled confidence in its future growth prospects by starting construction of a new manufacturing plant at its Thornton Cleveleys site, which is due for completion in 2015.
David Hummel, Chief Executive of Victrex said: “Victrex has seen significant growth over 20 years and has transformed into a world leader in high performance polymers, serving a diverse range of markets.
“None of this could have been achieved without the passion, innovation and sheer hard work of our colleagues past and present. Whilst we are mindful of the wider economic environment, which remains challenging, we believe that Victrex has a bright future and we have a strong pipeline of growth opportunities for the years ahead.
“Our celebration event is in recognition of everyone at Victrex, and those associated with us, who have helped us to become the business we are today.”
